88 SWABEY DIARY. 
seen above the clouds, which produces a very striking effect. We 
passed the Tagus at Villa Velha by a bridge of boats, it was at this 
place that poor Johnson! was lost in attempting to ford, the rapidity of 
the stream bore him and his horse away, and it is supposed that he was 
struck by the animal’s feet, as he was a very good swimmer, and swim- 
ming might have saved him; his name is cut on a tree by the road 
side, where he was found and buried by Captain Bull? 10 days after his 
unfortunate catastrophe. I walked all day in the sun for forage, and 
could only get the stalks of some Indian corn. . . . . . 
25th September.—Marched for Sarnadas with foraging parties on 
both flanks of the route, they were very successful and brought in a 
great quantity, but my heart bled to be obliged to take it from the 
inhabitants ; the poor half-starved wretches implored me to spare it for 
their sheep, which as well as their goats they keep to milk, and live on 
the cheese which is very bad. I gave them a full receipt, wishing 
rather to err on their side in the weight, which it was impossible to 
ascertain ; these receipts are all paid to the Ist of July. 
Captain M. sent me on after dinner to Castel Branco, where I again 
overtook Maxwell aud partook of his quarters. The town was so full of 
cavalry detachments, sent there to recruit their strength, and the 
R.1.D.G., that it was 10 o’clock before I could get my horses put into a 
stable, and at last only through the charity of an officer of the 11th, 
who let me crowd his own horses by the addition of mine. 
26th September.—Fortunately the troop found quarters in conse- 
quence of a sudden order for the Dragoons to march, this order put us 
all on the alert, and we immediately inspected our guns, &c. We were 
again under the necessity of leaving 12 men behind, we however got 
the use of some of Captain Thompson’s company, and we made useful 
some horses last sent up the country. Castel Branco is a large town 
on an eminence, with a castle of little use, it forms a strong position 
on the frontier next to Pena Macor. 
27th September.—Marched and got to Pedrogiio early, and encamped 
under the shade of cork trees. Late in the evening, Colonel Sherlock 
of the 4th R.I.D.G., received information that French cavalry had pene- 
1 Lieutenant William Johnson (Kane’s List, No. 1303), of Captain Thompson’s brigade, was 
drowned in fording the Tagus at Villa Velha on 14th June, 1811. Ingleby Diary, R.A.1. ‘ Pro- 
ecedings,’’ May 1898. 
2 Captain Robert Bull (Kane’s List, 845) served in the campaigns in the West Indies, 1796-8, 
and was nine times engaged in the Island of St. Domingo. 
He commanded “‘ 1” Troop (now ‘‘ 1” Battery), R.H.A., which was formed under his super- 
vision, from 1806 to 1823. He served with it in the Peninsula (generally attached to the cavalry) 
from March 1809, to the close of the war in 1814. On several occasions he was absent owing to 
wounds, when 2nd Captain Norman Ramsay acted for him. During the war the troop was 
engaged in six battles, five sieges, 21 actions, and 28 affairs and captures; 60 engagements in all.* 
Major Bull was with his troop at Waterloo where it performed important services, especially at 
the beginning of the battle, and it suffered heavy losses. He received the C.B. and K.H. and 
Order of St. Anne of Russia, and was made brevet Lieut.-Colonel for the campaign. 
On giving up the command of the Horse Artillery at Woolwich in 1834, he was presented with a 
handsome piece of plate by the officers serving, and who had served under him, as a token of their 
esteem for his character as a soldicr, and regard for him as a friend. He retired the samo year, 
being permanently disabled from further service, the result of wounds received during his long and 
distinguished career. He died at Bath in April 1838. 
*MS. record of troop service which belonged to Major E. C. Whinyates, who succeeded Licut.- 
Colonel Bull in command in 1823,—F.4.1V. 
